Helmet shell suspension



Aug. 1, 1961 H. N. TRICE 2,994,087 HELMET SHELL SUSPENSION Filed July28, 1958 5&2

INVENTOR.

HARLEY /1/. 78/66 BY ZMwM United States Patent" 2,994,087 HELMET SHELLSUSPENSION Harley N. Trice, Pittsburgh, Pa., assiguor to Mine SafetyApphances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania FiledJuly 28, 1958, Ser. No. 751,212

2 Claims- (Cl. 2-

This invention relates to safety helmets, such as are worn by industrialworkers, and more particularly to the suspensions for such helmets.

Most helmet suspensions include a cradle formed from straps that fitover the head. To permit adjustments to be flattened loop forming upperand lower lengths. At each end of the strap there is a supporting memberthat is provided with vertically spaced transverse slots. The strapextends back and forth through these slots to support the supportingmembers, which are adapted to be attached to space a head apredetermined minimum distance from the top of the shell. However, theupper lengths of the strap can be pulled upward relative to thesupporting members through the slots and thereby Then, by placing Thepreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings; in which FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a helmet provided with mysuspension; and

FIG. 2 is an helmet.

Referring to the drawings, the shell 1 of the helmet may be made of anymaterial that will give it the necessary strength and rigidity. Suchshells are well known and generally include an integral brim. Inside theshell there is a lining that includes a cradle, which may be formed fromtwo or more straps 2 and 3 that pass over the head and cross each otheron top. Suspended from the ends of the straps in a manner that will bedescribed presently are supporting members 4, which are attached to thelower part of the shell. Each supporting member is a flat strip ofrelatively stiff material, such as metal, laminated fabric or a plastic.The lower end of each supporting member can be attached to the shell inany suitable manner. One convenient way of doing this is to shape thelower part of the supporting member like a hook and provide its end witha notch 5 for removably receiving a rivet 6 projecting from the insideof the shell. The usual adjustable headband 7 is disposed inside thecradle and preferably is supported by means carried by the supportingmembers. For example, flexible tabs 8 may be riveted to the upper endsof the supporting members and hang down below enlarged vertical sectionthrough the 2 them, the lower portions of the tabs being provided withheaded studs 9 that extend through holes or slots in the outside of theheadband to support it.

It is a feature of this invention that the cradle straps areself-adjusting so that no lace is required. Accordingly, each strap isin the form of an endless flattened loop, which is formed by folding theopposite end portions of the strap inward upon itself and securing thefree ends together midway between the ends of the loop. This means thateach strap has upper and lower lengths 11 and 12 that normally may besubstantially in engagement with each other. It is preferred to connectthe lower lengths of the different straps together where they cross eachother at the top of the cradle and to do likewise with their upperlengths. The straps are attached to supporting members 4 by threadingthem back and forth through vertically spaced transverse slots 13, withwhich the upper portions of those members are provided. Usually twosubstantially horizontal slots will be sufficient. The slots have aboutthe same thickness as the straps so that the straps will slide againstthe upper and lower walls of the slots if the straps are pulled throughthe slots. The sharp bends that the straps make in extending through theslots create friction that offers considerable resistance to sliding ofthe straps in the supporting members.

The length of the straps is such that when their upper and lower lengthsare together, thereby providing maximum length for the straps, therewill still be a safe distance between the top of the cradle and the topof the shell, as shown in FIG. 2. In many cases, however, this clearancewill be increased, such as when the crown height of the wearer is lessthan the maximum for which the lining is designed. In such cases theupper lengths 11 of the straps are pulled upward manually relative tothe supporting members to slide the straps down through the slots andthereby lower the lower lengths 12 of the straps, as shown in dottedlines. The top of the head then will be spaced from the top of the shella distance equal to the space between the lower lengths of the strapsand the shell.

To secure the correct adjustment in every case, the upper lengths of thestraps are pulled upward as just described and then the helmet is placedon the head. By pressing firmly downward on the helmet the straps willslide upward through the slots in the supporting members as the headpushes the lower lengths of the straps farther up into the shell. Thismovement of the straps will continue until the headband is seated in thecorrect position on the head. In many cases the upper lengths of thestraps will remain slack. If the helmet then receives a hard blow, thelower lengths of the straps will be forced farther up into the shell andthe upper lengths simultaneously pulled downward. The friction betweenthe straps and the supporting members 4 during this action absorbs someof the shock of the impact. As soon as the upper lengths of the strapsare resting on the lower lengths, both the upper and the lower lengthsare operable to support the shell.

According to the provisions of the patentstatutes, I have explained theprinciple of my invention and have illustrated and described what I nowconsider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have itunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated anddescribed.

I claim:

stantially fiat upper and lower walls, the strap extending back andforth through the slots in said members to support them, the endportions of said lower lengths of the straps engaging the outer side ofsaid supporting members above the slots, said members being adaptedto beattached to a helmet shell to support it, and a headband inside thecradle and supported thereby independently of the straps, the strapsbeing of a length to space a head a predetermined minimum distance fromthe top of the shell, and the upper lengths of the straps being adaptedto be pulled upward manually relative to the supporting members to slidethe straps through said slots and lower the lower lengths of the straps,whereby to space the head farther from the top of the shell, thefriction between the straps and said supporting members being such thatthe straps Will slide through said slots it said members are pressedfirmly downward while said lowered lower lengths of the straps rest on ahead.

2. A helmet shell suspension comprising a headreceiving cradle formedfrom straps crossing each other at the top of the cradle, each strapbeing in the form of an endless flattened loop having upper and lowerlengths, a supporting member at each end of the strap provided with apair of vertically spaced transverse slots having substantially flatupper and lower walls, each slot having substantially the same thicknessas the strap therein, the strap extending slidably back and forththrough the slots in said members substantially perpendicular to thosemembers to support them, the end portions of said lower lengths of thestraps engaging the outer side of said supporting members abovethefslots, said members being adapted to be attached to a helmet shellto support it, a headband inside the cradle, and flexible membersindependent of the straps suspended from said supporting members andconnected to the headband to. support it, the straps being of a lengthto space a head a predetermined minimum distance from the top of theshell, and the upper lengths of the straps being adapted to be pulledupward manually relative to the supporting members to slide the strapsthrough said slots and lower the lower lengths of the straps, whereby tospace the head farther from the top of the shell, the friction betweenthe straps and said supporting members being such that the straps willslide through said slots if said members are pressed firmly downwardwhile said lowered lower lengths of the straps rest on a head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,739,309 Frieder et al Mar. 27, 1956 2,769,176 Grancsay et al. Nov. 6,1956, 2,855,605 Aileo Oct. 14, 1958 2,879,513 Hornickel et al Mar. 31,1959 2,910,702 Austin et al Nov. 3, 1959 2,921,318 Voss et al Jan. 19,1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 676,828 Germany May 17, 19,39

